Top-ranked Alabama edges LSU in OT

This time, Saban won as the head coach of Alabama, which moved a
step closer toward the BCS national title game.

John Parker Wilson scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper,
lifting top-ranked Alabama to a 27-21 overtime victory over No.
15 Louisiana State on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide (10-0, 6-0 SEC West), who entered with the No.
1 ranking in the BCS standings, need to win their two remaining
regular-season contests to enter the SEC championship game with
an undefeated record.

"We are at about 19,000 feet," Saban said. "The mountain is at
26,000 feet and the air is changing a little bit. The air is a
little rarer and you have to change how you breathe sometimes,
but you still have to focus on the task at hand.

"Because of that, if you slip up and don't focus on what you are
supposed to, the consequences can be devastating even more so
than when you are at 7,000 feet."

Seeking its first national championship since the 1991 season,
Alabama clinched the SEC West Division title thanks to its win
over the Tigers, who won two conference titles and the BCS crown
in their five seasons under Saban.

Saturday's showdown marked Saban's first game at Tiger Stadium
since he bolted LSU after the 2004 season for the NFL's Miami
Dolphins.

"I know there may be some people that have a negative attitude,
but I can say I really appreciate those people that spoke to me
and welcomed me back here today," said Saban, who was booed
lustily as he took the field.

"We have special memories of this place, and no one will tarnish
those no matter what they do. I appreciate the class of the
people and administration at LSU."

Saban coached the Tigers to the national championship in 2003,
the school's first since 1958, but he did not leave LSU under
the best of circumstances.

Saban, who spent two seasons with the Dolphins before
unceremoniously leaving for the Alabama job in January 2007, saw
his Crimson Tide squander a chance to win Saturday's game in
regulation when Leigh Tiffin's 29-yard field goal was blocked as
time expired.

But Alabama regained momentum on the third play of overtime when
Rashad Johnson intercepted LSU's Jarrett Lee in the end zone.

"I saw (Lee) roll out, and we brought a blitz to pull him up
because they had been running that play a lot in the second
half," Johnson said. "It was a great play call by us to blitz
him on that side so he couldn't get all the way out."

The Crimson Tide capitalized on the golden opportunity, as
Wilson hooked up with freshman sensation Julio Jones for a
24-yard catch-and-run on the first play of the ensuing series.

"After that interception, Coach Saban said let's take a shot, so
of course we threw it to Julio Jones," Wilson said. "He made a
great play. It was a back shoulder ball."

Two plays later, Wilson lowered his shoulders and plowed across
the goal line, ending Alabama's five-game losing streak in this
SEC rivalry.

"They played well," LSU head coach Les Miles said. "John Parker
Wilson is a good quarterback. He's very mobile. He makes some
nice throws and manages the game well."

Facing a 14-7 deficit late in the first half, Alabama benefited
from a major momentum swing when Johnson intercepted Lee and
scored on a 54-yard return to forge a tie with 4:33 remaining in
the second quarter.

It was one of three interceptions in the game for Johnson, who
has recorded at least one pick in each of his last three
contests.

"My mindset before the game was just to focus on the things we
prepared for all week and to make sure I was set up for
different motions and looks they would give us," Johnson said.

Alabama took a 21-14 lead midway through the third quarter on
Glen Coffee's 3-yard TD run.

But LSU (6-3, 3-3) tied the score at 21-21 when Charles Scott
rumbled for a 1-yard score, capping a 14-play drive.

Alabama found itself in prime position to win the game with two
minutes remaining in the fourth quarter following Javier Arenas'
23-yard punt return to the LSU 41.

The Crimson Tide used a trio of short runs from Coffee and a
facemask penalty to move the ball to the LSU 12 with three
seconds left.

But the Tigers forced overtime when Ricky Jean-Francois blocked
Tiffin's potential game winner.